Peru day 1 and 2
I have always wanted to hike Macchu pichu. I finished my masters degree this spring and am turning 40 in July. So this trip was my present to myself!!
I was delayed an hour and a half in Houston but made in to Miami in plenty of time for my connection. We sat on the runway for 90 min in Miami due to mechanical problems. The flight wasn't full so I had a row to myself so I could lay down and take a nap. Little did I know how much I was going to need that! I waited for my baggage for an hour. It never came. I wait in line to fill out the paperwork. I explain that I have a morning flight to cusco. There was a 5 am flight from Miami and my bag might be on it so they told me to go to the aa office at 8. I wasn't hopeful because when i said " so I will get it tomorrow?" They laughed!! I travel all over the world and I have never lost my luggage except for in the US. It is seriously 50/50. I don't even think they try. I get a cab to take me to my hotel. He can't find it, calls the hotel multiple times and no one answers -seems sketchy so I ask him to take me back to the airport. It's almost 2 am so I decide to stay at the ramada next to the airport even though it is expensive. They have no rooms but offer to let me stay the spa. For 65$ you can sleep on one of the lounge chairs by the hot tub and take a shower in the locker room. I usually have shorts and a t shirt with me but this time I didn't so I slept in my jeans. I bought deodorant and toothpaste at the hotel. I got about 4 hours of sleep- glad I napped on the plane. I went to the aa office at 7:45 a man told me it was closed. I said " I know. I'm waiting until 8 when it opens." He says it isn't open on sat or Sunday. What?? I won't get my stuff until Monday???? He took pity on me and checked on it and found it!! I hugged him and said he was my favorite Peruvian!
Got on the flight and met up with some of my group. Everyone seemed to have an awful story. One lady flew from Chicago to Houston. She missed her connection so they flew her to Mexico City they circled around and couldn't land due to weather so to went to alcupulco to get fuel. Then they went back to Mexico City and landed then she went to bogota then Lima. Whew!! She was just suppose to do Chicago to Houston to Lima.
We got settled in to the San Agustin plaza hotel in cusco and drank coca tea to help with the altitude sickness - Cuzco is at 11,200 feet. We went together for lovely Peruvian lunch then we went to see ruins at Saqsaywayman. My roommate is Debra and we realized we were on the same Alaskan marathon cruise! We got back early and we were in bed by 7 pm.
I have always wanted to hike Macchu pichu. I finished my masters degree this spring and am turning 40 in July. So this trip was my present to myself!!
I was delayed an hour and a half in Houston but made in to Miami in plenty of time for my connection. We sat on the runway for 90 min in Miami due to mechanical problems. The flight wasn't full so I had a row to myself so I could lay down and take a nap. Little did I know how much I was going to need that! I waited for my baggage for an hour. It never came. I wait in line to fill out the paperwork. I explain that I have a morning flight to cusco. There was a 5 am flight from Miami and my bag might be on it so they told me to go to the aa office at 8. I wasn't hopeful because when i said " so I will get it tomorrow?" They laughed!! I travel all over the world and I have never lost my luggage except for in the US. It is seriously 50/50. I don't even think they try. I get a cab to take me to my hotel. He can't find it, calls the hotel multiple times and no one answers -seems sketchy so I ask him to take me back to the airport. It's almost 2 am so I decide to stay at the ramada next to the airport even though it is expensive. They have no rooms but offer to let me stay the spa. For 65$ you can sleep on one of the lounge chairs by the hot tub and take a shower in the locker room. I usually have shorts and a t shirt with me but this time I didn't so I slept in my jeans. I bought deodorant and toothpaste at the hotel. I got about 4 hours of sleep- glad I napped on the plane. I went to the aa office at 7:45 a man told me it was closed. I said " I know. I'm waiting until 8 when it opens." He says it isn't open on sat or Sunday. What?? I won't get my stuff until Monday???? He took pity on me and checked on it and found it!! I hugged him and said he was my favorite Peruvian!
Got on the flight and met up with some of my group. Everyone seemed to have an awful story. One lady flew from Chicago to Houston. She missed her connection so they flew her to Mexico City they circled around and couldn't land due to weather so to went to alcupulco to get fuel. Then they went back to Mexico City and landed then she went to bogota then Lima. Whew!! She was just suppose to do Chicago to Houston to Lima.
We got settled in to the San Agustin plaza hotel in cusco and drank coca tea to help with the altitude sickness - Cuzco is at 11,200 feet. We went together for lovely Peruvian lunch then we went to see ruins at Saqsaywayman. My roommate is Debra and we realized we were on the same Alaskan marathon cruise! We got back early and we were in bed by 7 pm.
